Monday’s match analysis: CHV at NE | Análisis del partido: CHV vs. NE

Chivas USA made a cross-country trip to the East Coast looking to earn three points against the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. However, a lone goal by Lee Nguyen in the 56th minute was enough to give the home team three points. Now, the Goats will have to reflect and correct the mistakes made in Saturday’s match in order to come out with a positive result against the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer’s Week 25. The following are three takeaways from Saturday’s matchup against the Eastern Conference squad:

Second half improvement

If Chivas USA battled through the first half to maintain possession and create scoring opportunities, they were able to improve in the second half. Red-and-White midfielder Agustin Pelletieri was able to get one shot on target in the first half, but the remaining three were in the second half, in comparison to New England’s two. Unfortunately for the Goats, it would be one of those two shots taken by the Revolution that was able to give the home team the ultimate win.

“In a lot of ways we matched them in the tactical aspect and defensively we were very good for most of the game,” said Chivas USA Assistant Coach Paul Caffrey. “I would say in the end it was just separated by that little bit of quality. They had that little bit of quality to score a goal and we had maybe three or four very good chances and we lacked at that point, that little bit of quality, and that was the difference.”

Borja and Torres in the attack

Felix Borja has been with Chivas USA for just a little over two weeks, and so far, the Ecuadorian forward has shown sparks of what he could do in the attack. For the second game in a row, Red-and-White Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera teamed up an experienced Borja with young forward Erick “Cubo” Torres. Throughout the match, Borja and Torres teamed up to shake up Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, an effort that helped the Goats earn a total of four shots on target by the end of the night.

Looking from the backline to the front, Chivas USA defender Tony Lochhead sees the Borja-Torres chemistry building, something that can become dangerous for their upcoming rivals.

“They had some good chances,” the Red-and-White defender said after the game. “Felix had luck in the first half and obviously Torres had that header in the second half. Obviously it’s their second game together and it’s going to take time, but hopefully they’ll start banging some balls into the back of the net.”

All focus turns onto the next game

Although the Goats play each match with the determination to come out with three points, the upcoming SuperClásico against the LA Galaxy is prepared for and played differently, with more intensity. This Sunday, the Red-and-White will be looking to earn three crucial points that will help them finish off the series with their heads held high.

Chivas USA seven-year veteran Dan Kennedy knows exactly what it’s like to prepare and play in the SuperClásico. Even though Kennedy knows about the importance of the game, it’s in the final stretch of the season that Kennedy is focused on earning the most points possible.

“[With the] 10 games left that we have, we need to make sure every game is close and we’re in it and have that opportunity to win. If we play like we did [against the Revs], we’ll have those opportunities,” Kennedy finalized.